The role of family support in the well-being of older people: Evidence from Malaysia and Viet Nam

Rodge s, Yana; Z eglich, Joseph E.; Ali, Khadija; Xue, Hanna
Wo king Pape
The ole o amily suppo in he well-being o olde
people: E idence om Malaysia and Vie Nam
ADB Economics Wo king Pape Se ies, No. 730
P o ided in Coope a ion wi h:
Asian De elopmen Bank (ADB), Manila
Sugges ed Ci a ion: Rodge s, Yana; Z eglich, Joseph E.; Ali, Khadija; Xue, Hanna (2024) : The ole
o amily suppo in he well-being o olde people: E idence om Malaysia and Vie Nam, ADB
Economics Wo king Pape Se ies, No. 730, Asian De elopmen Bank (ADB), Manila,
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ADB ECONOMICS
WORKING PAPER SERIES
NO. 730
June 2024
The Role o Family Suppo in he Well-Being o Olde People
E idence om Malaysia and Vie Nam
Rapid demog aphic changes in Malaysia and Vie Nam could dis up adi ional amily suppo o olde
people. An analysis o unique panel da a om he Malaysia Ageing and Re i emen Su ey and he Vie Nam
Aging Su ey poin s o he bene i s o li ing condi ions—including ma i al s a us and whe he one’s child en
li e nea by— o he physical and men al well-being o olde people. Gi en he es ima ed p o ec i e e ec o
li ing a angemen s examined in he pape , go e nmen s may need o adjus social sa e y ne s o bols e he
physical and men al heal h o senio ci izens li ing alone.
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loans, equi y in es men s, gua an ees, g an s, and echnical assis ance.
THE ROLE OF FAMILY SUPPORT
IN THE WELL-BEING
OF OLDER PEOPLE
EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA AND VIET NAM
Yana an de Meulen Rodge s, Joseph E. Z eglich, J ., Khadija Ali, and Hanna Xue
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
The ADB Economics Wo king Pape Se ies
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ADB Economics Wo king Pape Se ies
Yana an de Meulen Rodge s,
Joseph E. Z eglich, J ., Khadija Ali,
and Hanna Xue
No. 730 | June 2024
Yana an de Meulen Rodge s (yana. odge s@ u ge s.edu)
is a p o esso o Labo S udies and Employmen
Rela ions and acul y di ec o o he Cen e o Women
and Wo k and Hanna Xue (hmx1@sml . u ge s.edu) is a
PhD candida e a Ru ge s Uni e si y. Joseph E. Z eglich,
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a he Economic Resea ch and De elopmen Impac
Depa men and Khadija Ali ([email p o ec ed]) is an
ope a ions analys a he Cen al and Wes Asia
Depa men , Asian De elopmen Bank.
The Role o Family Suppo in he Well-Being
o Olde People: E idence om Malaysia and Vie Nam
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1
ABSTRACT
Demog aphics in Malaysia and Vie Nam a e e ol ing apidly, po en ially dis up ing
adi ional amily suppo o olde people. We es ima e a se o Poisson andom e ec s
models wi h panel da a om he Malaysia Ageing and Re i emen Su ey and he Vie
Nam Aging Su ey o analyze how li ing a angemen s, ma i al s a us, and suppo om
child en in luence he men al and physical heal h o olde people. In Malaysia, ha ing
li ing child en plays an impo an p o ec i e ole o bo h men al and physical heal h, while
li ing wi h a son appea s o ha e a p o ec i e e ec o physical heal h. Resul s a e simila
o Vie Nam, excep olde women, who a e a g ea e isk o men al and physical heal h
p oblems, appea o enjoy a g ea e p o ec i e e ec o hei men al heal h om a child
li ing nea by han do men. Ou analysis unde sco es he impo ance o social sa e y ne s
o he heal h o senio ci izens li ing alone.
Keywo ds: men al heal h, well-being, physical heal h, dep ession, gende , women,
aging
JEL codes: I14, J16, O53
______________________
The au ho s hank Aiko Kikkawa, Minhaj Mahmud, Maki Nakajima, Donghyun Pa k, pa icipan s
in he 2023 Asian De elopmen Bank wo kshop on he S a e o Well-Beings o Olde Pe sons in
Asia, and pa icipan s in he 2024 Asian De elopmen Bank Economis s’ Fo um o hei help ul
sugges ions. Guidance om No ma Manso on he use o he Malaysia da a and om Long Thanh
Giang on he use o he Vie Nam da a was g ea ly app ecia ed.

1
I. In oduc ion
The numbe o olde Asians aged 65 and abo e is g owing apidly. By he yea 2050, he
sha e o Asia’s olde people in he o al popula ion will be 18%, exceeding he global
a e age o 16% (Asian De elopmen Bank [ADB] 2017). Al hough de eloping coun ies
in he egion s ill ha e ela i ely young popula ions, hei demog aphic ansi ions a e
p og essing apidly, wi h a conside able shi in he age s uc u e owa d olde people.
This shi has p omp ed legisla i e e o ms o build and ein o ce he social sa e y ne o
be e suppo olde people, especially hose li ing in po e y.
A g owing body o esea ch is examining how he well-being o olde women and
men is in luenced by hei li ing a angemen s. Ac oss coun ies, amilies a e using hei
own unpaid labo , especially ha o women, o p o ide ca e o olde amily membe s
(S a k 2005). Unpaid ca e o olde men is o en p o ided by spouses, while o women i
is p o ided by o he amily membe s, especially by daugh e s, as documen ed o he
Republic o Ko ea (Yoon 2014) and he People’s Republic o China (Chen e al. 2018).
One ou come o hese in o mal ca e a angemen s is lowe hospi aliza ion a es o olde
people li ing wi h amily membe s compa ed wi h he olde people who li e alone
(González-González e al. 2011). In wha has been called he eminiza ion o la e li e, he
popula ion sha e has become inc easingly emale among olde age g oups in mos
coun ies, wi h women ha ing highe li e expec ancies han men on a e age because o
a combina ion o biological, social, and beha io al easons (Kinsella 2000). Gi en
women’s longe li e expec ancies, in mos coun ies ela i ely mo e women a e widowed
han men, lea ing women mo e elian on o mal se ices ou side o he home o hei
heal hca e needs, including long- e m ca e.
2
Despi e hei longe li e expec ancies, women a e mo e likely han men o epo
heal h p oblems and o ha e wo se sel - epo ed heal h s a us (A chessi e al. 2018;
Madyaning um, Chuang, and Chuang 2018; Case and Paxson 2005). Olde women a e
mo e ulne able o po e y gi en hei ela i ely highe a es o widowhood as well as
insu icien suppo om pensions and social secu i y owing o hei ela i ely sho e
imes in he labo o ce (Smeeding and Sands om 2005). In u n, po e y and income
cons ain s con ibu e o p oblems in accessing heal hca e. Olde women ha e aced
addi ional cons ain s, including ela i ely lowe a es o heal h insu ance co e age, less
educa ion, and lack o economic independence, ha ha e limi ed hei access o
heal hca e and hei abili y o pay o i (B inda e al. 2015, Zhang e al. 2017). Gende
disc imina ion and class bias agains poo people may also play a ole causing women o
slip h ough he c acks in gaining access o se ices om ne wo k hospi als (Ka pagam,
Vasan, and See happa 2016).
We con ibu e o his li e a u e by examining ac o s ha a e associa ed wi h he
well-being o olde people in Sou heas Asia, wi h a ocus on he ole o amily suppo
and li ing a angemen s. We s udy wo coun ies ha a e expe iencing p onounced
demog aphic ansi ions and e ol ing challenges aced by he olde membe s o hei
popula ions: Malaysia and Vie Nam. Ou goal is o de e mine how suppo om child en
in luences he men al and physical heal h o olde people, and how hese e ec s di e by
e hnici y and gende . A ocus on di e ences ac oss e hnic g oups e eals how people
wi h a ying e hnic backg ounds iew he ole o amily in ca ing o aging pa en s. This
app oach is mo i a ed by quali a i e e idence ha olde Chinese in Malaysia a e no
suppo ed by hei child en and a e placed in o nu sing homes ins ead (Tey e al. 2016).
3
Mo eo e , he analysis will also show how disc imina ion by e hnici y—simila o he case
o gende bias—may be e lec ed in dispa i ies in he well-being o olde people, o he
ex en ha some e hic g oups in hese coun ies ha e expe ienced bias and
ma ginaliza ion in he labo ma ke .
Cul u al nuances and di e en kinship sys ems can play a majo ole in in luencing
how olde pa en s espond o ca e by hei child en, as e idenced by p e ious esea ch
indica ing ha he psychological well-being o olde people in Vie Nam is posi i ely
associa ed wi h li ing wi h a ma ied son bu no wi h a daugh e , while in Thailand, co-
esidence wi h a child has bene icial e ec s o he psychological well-being o olde
people ega dless o he gende o he child (Tee awichi chainan, Po hisi i, and Long
2015). Ou objec i e is o build on his esea ch along se e al dimensions: we look a
h ee measu es o well-being, we use mo e ecen da a o Vie Nam and new panel da a
o Malaysia, and we explo e how he ela ionship be ween li ing a angemen s and he
well-being o olde people a ies by gende and e hnici y.
II. Backg ound
A. The Demog aphic T ansi ion
Malaysia is s ill in he ea ly s ages o he demog aphic ansi ion while Vie Nam is
(somewha su p isingly, conside ing i s s ill ela i ely low income) a a mo e ad anced
s age. In ac , Vie Nam is one o coun ies o he Associa ion o Sou heas Asian Na ions
ha is widely ci ed as being a isk o ge ing old be o e ge ing ich (Huong 2017).
The e o e, he demog aphic p o iles o Malaysia and Vie Nam a e qui e di e en in e ms
o he speed o popula ion aging. Figu e 1 depic s popula ion py amids o he yea s 1990
4
and 2021 in which he ba s indica e he pe cen age o he o al popula ion ha is male o
emale and belongs o a pa icula age g oup. Bo h coun ies ha e clea ly unde gone
p onounced demog aphic ansi ions since 1990, wi h a la ge shi in he popula ion
dis ibu ion om child en o adul s. Consis en wi h o he middle-income coun ies in he
egion, he popula ion is now concen a ed among age g oups conside ed o be young
and wo king-age adul s, and Vie Nam has s a ed o see ha shi in he dis ibu ion o
he popula ion owa d olde people. S ikingly, gende imbalances a e p og essi ely
skewed owa d women in olde age g oups, especially in Vie Nam.
Inse Figu e 1 he e
Looking a he da a om ano he angle shows ha mos o he olde people a e
women. Figu e 2 shows he male– emale sex a io by 5-yea coho s o bo h coun ies;
ha is, he a io o he numbe o males in each 5-yea age g oup o he numbe o emales,
exp essed as a pe cen age. Numbe s close o 100 indica e ha he sha es o males and
emales in an age g oup a e oughly he same. These a ios exhibi a ma ked and sha p
d op o he olde popula ion g oups, especially a e he age o 50, and especially in
Vie Nam. O e all, among olde people, women make up he majo i y sha e o all age
g oups, and he di e ence is pa icula ly s a k o hose aged 70 and abo e.
Inse Figu e 2 he e
B. Aging and Family Suppo in Malaysia
A small bu g owing body o esea ch has examined he essen ial ole o social
suppo o bo h physical and men al heal h ou comes o olde people, especially
conce ning dep ession and physical inac i i y (Sazlina e al. 2012, Ma hammu hu e al.
11
Figu es 3–6 compa e se e al key a iables be ween he wo coun ies. As shown
in Figu e 3, 57% o olde people in Vie Nam epo ha ing a leas wo ch onic physical
heal h condi ions, conside ably highe han Malaysia (32%); only 18% in Vie Nam we e
no diagnosed wi h any ch onic condi ions compa ed o 46% in Malaysia. Olde people in
Vie Nam a e also mo e likely o epo ha ing dep essi e symp oms: 57% o olde people
in Vie Nam epo ed expe iencing a leas h ee dep essi e symp oms compa ed o 18%
in Malaysia. Also o no e a e conside able gende di e ences in ma i al s a us in bo h
coun ies: olde men a e conside ably mo e likely o s ill be ma ied compa ed o olde
women. In con as , olde women a e much mo e likely o be widowed in bo h coun ies,
especially in Vie Nam—p esumably as a long- e m epe cussion o he loss o men’s
li es du ing he Vie Nam wa (Figu e 4). In bo h coun ies, he as majo i y o olde
people li e wi h o he amily membe s (85% in Malaysia and 72% in Vie Nam) (Figu e 5).
Gende di e ences in li ing a angemen s a e less p onounced in Malaysia han hey a e
in Vie Nam, whe e 67% o olde men li e wi h o he amily membe s compa ed wi h 74%
o olde women. Also in bo h coun ies, olde women a e mo e likely han olde men o
li e by hemsel es, while he opposi e is ue o li ing only wi h one’s spouse. A inal
poin o in e es in he desc ip i e s a is ics is he loca ion o he nea es li ing child. A
la ge p opo ion o olde people in bo h coun ies li e wi h hei child en: in Malaysia, 77%
o olde people li e wi h a leas one child, and in Vie Nam ha sha e is 65% (Figu e 6).
In Malaysia, mo e olde people li e wi h a son han wi h a daugh e , and his is ue o
bo h men and women.
Inse Figu es 3-6 he e

12
IV. Es ima ion Resul s
A. Malaysia
Table 1 shows he esul s o he ac o s ha a e associa ed wi h he numbe o
dep essi e condi ions in Malaysia. The able epo s Poisson coe icien s, each o which
is in e p e ed as he expec ed change, on a log scale, he coun o dep essi e condi ions
o a one-uni change in he p edic o a iable (holding he o he p edic o a iables
cons an ).
Inse Table 1 he e
Looking i s a he esul s o he o e all sample in column 1 and he wo
age-g oup subsamples (aged 40–59 and aged 60+) in columns 2–3, we see ha
inc easing age is associa ed wi h a somewha highe expec ed numbe o dep essi e
symp oms, bu gende has no s a is ically signi ican associa ion wi h dep essi e
symp oms. Columns 2 and 3 show ha he posi i e associa ion be ween age in yea s and
dep essi e condi ions is coming en i ely om he olde people aged 60 and abo e. Among
he e hnic g oups in he o e all sample, compa ed o he o he Bumipu a ca ego y, being
Indian is associa ed wi h mo e dep essi e symp oms, and his is d i en mos ly by he
hose aged 40–59. In con as , being Chinese is associa ed wi h ewe dep essi e
condi ions o bo h age g oups and o he o e all sample. This esul is consis en wi h
p e ious indings in he li e a u e ha among olde people in Malaysia, Chinese
indi iduals a e less likely o sel - epo poo heal h compa ed o Malays, Indian, and
Indigenous People, and his esul holds ac oss income g oups (Teh, Tey, and Ng 2014a;
Chan e al. 2015; Khan and Flynn 2016). A possible eason is ha olde Chinese adul s
13
exhibi mo e heal h-p omo ing beha io s han olde Malay and Indian adul s (Mohd e al.
2022).
Ou key independen a iables o he numbe o child en and li ing a angemen s
yield some meaning ul esul s. As shown in column 1, compa ed o adul s wi h no li ing
child en, adul s who ha e a leas one li ing child ha e a subs an ially lowe expec ed
numbe o dep essi e symp oms, and his is pa icula ly ue o adul s who ha e h ee o
ou li ing child en. This p o ec i e e ec o ha ing li ing child en is only ue o olde
people aged 60 and abo e. Closely ela ed, compa ed o adul s who li e alone, adul s
who li e wi h hei spouse o wi h o he amily membe s ha e a lowe expec ed numbe
o dep essi e symp oms, and his is especially ue o adul s who li e only wi h hei
spouse. Again, columns 2 and 3 show ha hese li ing a angemen a iables only ha e
s a is ically signi ican coe icien s o olde people aged 60 and abo e. Al hough i does
no appea o ma e i he adul is li ing wi h a son o daugh e in he same home, i does
ma e o men al heal h o ha e a daugh e li ing nea by, bu in an unexpec ed way: li ing
nea one’s daugh e is associa ed wi h a highe numbe o dep essi e symp oms. This
esul is d i en by olde people aged 60 and abo e. Closely ela ed o li ing a angemen s
is ma i al s a us: adul s who a e sepa a ed o di o ced ha e mo e dep essi e symp oms
compa ed o people who a e ma ied in bo h age-g oup samples. Being widowed is also
associa ed wi h mo e dep essi e symp oms, bu his esul is explained mos ly by adul s
aged 40–59. Ha ing ne e been ma ied also appea s o ha e an ad e se men al heal h
e ec o adul s aged 40–59 bu a p o ec i e e ec o olde people aged 60 and abo e.
Resul s o he o he independen a iables in columns 1–3 a e as expec ed. Mo e
educa ion is gene ally associa ed wi h ewe dep essi e condi ions compa ed o ha ing
14
no educa ion a all, and he magni ude o his ela ionship is la ge he highe he
educa ional a ainmen . In addi ion, li ing in an u ban a ea is associa ed wi h a lowe
numbe o expec ed dep essi e condi ions, al hough he opposi e is ue o li ing in
Peninsula Malaysia whe e mos o Malaysia’s popula ion li es.
Columns 4–6 show how hese esul s o he wo age-g oup samples di e by
gende o he esponden . O no e, he inc ease in dep essi e condi ions associa ed wi h
age is pa icula ly s ong o women aged 60 and beyond, while he p o ec i e e ec o
being Chinese holds o bo h men and women (excep ha he coe icien is no
s a is ically signi ican o men aged 40–59). The esul s o he numbe o li ing child en
and li ing a angemen s a e also s iking. The p o ec i e e ec s o ha ing li ing child en
compa ed o ha ing no child en o olde people hold o bo h men and women, as do he
bene icial e ec o li ing wi h one’s spouse only. Howe e , only olde men seem o
expe ience he ad e se e ec o men al heal h om li ing nea a daugh e .
Resul s o he numbe o ch onic heal h condi ions o Malaysia a e in Table 2.
Looking i s a he o e all esul s and he wo age-g oup subsamples in columns 1–3, we
see ha being a woman is associa ed wi h a highe expec ed numbe o ch onic heal h
condi ions o olde people aged 60 and abo e, bu no o younge adul s. In con as , an
addi ional yea o age is linked wi h mo e ch onic condi ions o adul s aged 40–59, bu
no o olde people. Among he e hnic g oups, he la ges e ec is ound o being Indian,
which is associa ed wi h a ai ly la ge inc ease in he expec ed numbe o ch onic
condi ions among adul s in hei 40s and 50s, bu no olde people. E hnic Malays in hei
40s and 50s also ha e mo e ch onic condi ions, while he opposi e is ue o he “o he ”
e hnic ca ego y. Again, hese esul s o he di e en e hnic g oups a e la gely in line wi h
15
p e ious s udies on sel - epo ed heal h among Malaysia’s di e en e hnic g oups (Teh,
Tey, and Ng 2014a, Chan e al. 2015, Khan and Flynn 2016).
Inse Table 2 he e
Among he esul s o he numbe o child en and li ing a angemen s, ha ing a
leas one child is posi i ely linked wi h he numbe o ch onic condi ions, and his e ec is
coming en i ely om olde people aged 60 and abo e. The gene al li ing a angemen s
do no appea o play much o a ole, bu li ing wi h o nea one’s child en does. Li ing
nea one’s daugh e is associa ed wi h a highe numbe o ch onic condi ions, especially
o adul s aged 40–59, while li ing wi h one’s son is associa ed wi h ewe ch onic
condi ions, especially o olde people aged 60 and abo e. Because hese es ima es a e
associa ions and no causal e ec s, i could be ha daugh e s a e likely o li e close o
hei pa en s i hei pa en s a e in poo heal h wi h mul iple ch onic condi ions, bu he
daugh e s’ own childca e a angemen s p e en hem om li ing wi h hei pa en s. Fo
olde people, and especially olde men, li ing wi h a son has a clea p o ec i e e ec o
physical heal h. Being widowed is also associa ed wi h ha ing a highe numbe o ch onic
condi ions. As o he o he con ol a iables, he mos no able inding is he lack o a
consis en p o ec i e e ec om educa ional a ainmen , which is coun e o he esul s
we ound o dep essi e condi ions.
As o gende di e ences in Columns 4–6 o Table 2, he e a e se e al key indings.
Fi s , only women in hei 40s and 50s, no men, epo a posi i e associa ion be ween
being Malay and ha ing mo e ch onic heal h condi ions. In con as , he posi i e
associa ion be ween ha ing a leas one child and ha ing mo e ch onic heal h condi ions
among olde people aged 60 and abo e holds mo e o men han i does o women. A
16
simila conclusion applies o li ing nea one’s daugh e : among adul s aged 40–59, he
posi i e associa ion be ween li ing nea one’s daugh e and numbe o ch onic condi ions
is conside ably la ge o men han o women. Being widowed also has a s onge
posi i e associa ion wi h ch onic condi ions o men han women among olde people
aged 60 and abo e.
B. Vie Nam
Resul s o he p edic o s associa ed wi h he numbe o dep essi e condi ions in
Vie Nam a e in Table 3. O e all, esul s o adul s aged 60 and abo e a e e y simila o
esul s o he o e all sample, so compa ed o Malaysia, he e is a less nuance by age
in Vie Nam, which may be pa ly accoun ed o by di e ences in minimum ages in he
wo coun ies’ samples. O e all, and among olde people abo e he age o 60, being a
woman is associa ed wi h ha ing a highe numbe o dep essi e symp oms, and he
magni ude o his associa ion is ai ly la ge compa ed o many o he es ima es. Howe e ,
being pa o he e hnic majo i y (Kinh) has a p o ec i e e ec on men al heal h. Among
he es ima es o he numbe o child en and li ing condi ions, ha ing a leas one child is
associa ed wi h a lowe numbe o dep essi e symp oms o bo h men and women, and
he same is ue o li ing wi h hei spouse o li ing wi h o he amily membe s, as
compa ed o li ing alone. Compa ed o no li ing close o any child en, li ing wi h a child
o li ing nea a child also appea s o ha e a p o ec i e e ec on men al heal h o all adul s
and o olde people.
Inse Table 3 he e
The e a e mo e a ia ions by age and gende o ma i al s a us. In pa icula , being
sepa a ed o di o ced is associa ed wi h a lowe expec ed numbe o dep essi e

17
symp oms o he o e all sample bu a highe numbe o dep essi e symp oms o olde
people aged 60 and abo e. Mos o ha e ec is coming om olde women. Also
con ibu ing o ha ing mo e dep essi e symp oms o women bu no o men is being
widowed. In di ec con as , ne e ha ing been ma ied is associa ed wi h mo e
dep essi e symp oms o men and ewe dep essi e symp oms o women. Also o no e
is he p o ec i e e ec o ha ing highe educa ional a ainmen on he men al heal h o
bo h olde men and olde women; we saw a simila esul o Malaysia. Mo eo e , he
p o ec i e e ec o li ing wi h o nea a child appea s o only hold o women, as men
ha e mo e dep essi e symp oms i hey a e li ing wi h o nea a child.
Finally, Table 4 epo s he esul s o he numbe o ch onic heal h condi ions in
Vie Nam. As we saw wi h he esul s o dep ession, being a woman is associa ed wi h
a highe expec ed numbe o ch onic heal h condi ions han men. Age and being e hnic
Kinh also ha e a posi i e associa ion wi h he numbe o ch onic heal h condi ions. In
con as , li ing wi h o nea a child is s ongly associa ed wi h ewe ch onic heal h
condi ions o all adul s and o olde people.
Inse Table 4 he e
The esul s o suppo om amily membe s show mo e di e en ia ion by age and
gende . In he o e all sample, ha ing a leas one child is associa ed wi h a highe numbe
o ch onic condi ions, and his esul is d i en p ima ily by men. Among adul s in hei 60s
and abo e, he ela ionship is less clea -cu and a ies by he numbe o child en and by
he gende o he esponden . So, o example, ha ing a leas one child is associa ed
wi h a meaning ul inc ease in he expec ed numbe o ch onic condi ions o olde men,
and his isk a ies wi h he numbe o child en, bu o olde women, he ela ionship is
18
smalle and in one case (ha ing 3–4 child en) i e en becomes nega i e. As o li ing
a angemen s, o he mos pa , he e is a p o ec i e e ec om li ing wi h hei spouse
only o wi h o he amily membe s. This holds o e e yone excep o olde women aged
60 and abo e, o whom li ing wi h hei spouse is associa ed wi h mo e ch onic heal h
condi ions. Mo eo e , he appa en p o ec i e e ec o physical heal h om li ing wi h o
nea a child is la ge o men han women.
Men and women di e conside ably in how ma i al s a us is associa ed wi h he
numbe o ch onic condi ions. While widowhood and being sepa a ed o di o ced a e
associa ed wi h ewe ch onic heal h condi ions among olde men in hei 60s and beyond,
he associa ion becomes posi i e o olde women. Howe e , ne e ha ing been ma ied
appea s o be good o one’s physical heal h o bo h olde men and olde women. The
inal no ewo hy esul is ha he p o ec i e e ec we saw in he case o men al heal h
does no appea o hold o ch onic physical condi ions. Ha ing seconda y o e ia y
schooling is associa ed wi h mo e ch onic condi ions o he o e all sample and he
sample o olde people, and i holds o bo h men and women excep o he case o olde
women ha ing e ia y educa ion.
V. Conclusion
This s udy has explo ed ac o s ha a e associa ed wi h heal h ou comes o olde
people in Malaysia and Vie Nam. We used ecen heal h su eys o es ima e Poisson
andom e ec s eg essions o model he de e minan s o well-being in old age, wi h a
ocus on men al heal h and physical heal h. Ou main indings o Malaysia poin o a
g ea e incidence o sel - epo ed ch onic heal h condi ions among olde women ela i e
19
o olde men. Consis en wi h ea lie s udies, we also ind subs an ial di e ences ac oss
e hnic g oups in he likelihood o epo ing bo h dep essi e symp oms and ch onic heal h
condi ions, wi h Indian adul s being mo e likely o epo men al and physical heal h issues
compa ed o Chinese adul s. Ha ing li ing child en plays an impo an p o ec i e ole o
bo h men al and physical heal h compa ed o ha ing no child en a all, especially o olde
people aged 60 and abo e. Li ing wi h a son also appea s o ha e a p o ec i e e ec on
physical heal h. As expec ed, li ing alone and being widowed o sepa a ed o di o ced
a e all associa ed wi h mo e dep essi e symp oms. The esul s o Vie Nam a e simila ,
excep ha olde women a e a g ea e isk o bo h men al heal h and physical heal h
p oblems compa ed o men, and women in Vie Nam enjoy mo e o a p o ec i e e ec o
hei men al heal h om li ing wi h o nea a child han do men. On balance hen, amily
suppo is c i ical o he men al and physical heal h o olde people in bo h coun ies, wi h
he implica ion ha senio ci izens who a e li ing alone need ex a suppo h ough he
social sa e y ne .
In Malaysia, he go e nmen has aken se e al s eps o p omo e he heal h and
well-being o olde people. No ably, Malaysia is one o jus a ew Asian coun ies ha has
achie ed uni e sal heal h co e age, meaning ha people ecei e needed heal hca e
se ices wi hou expe iencing inancial ha dship (Kowal, Ng, and Hoang 2024). Ano he
key measu e in place includes he Na ional Policy on Aging, which co e s a ious aspec s
o olde people’s well-being, including heal hca e, social suppo , and inancial secu i y.
The go e nmen has been wo king o inc ease he accessibili y and a o dabili y o
heal hca e se ices, as well as p o iding specialized se ices o age- ela ed condi ions.
The go e nmen has also conduc ed heal h educa ion and p omo ion campaigns
20
a ge ing olde people o aise awa eness abou heal hy li ing, disease p e en ion, and
he impo ance o egula heal h check-ups. In e ms o inancing heal hca e, he
go e nmen p o ides inancial suppo o olde people h ough p og ams like he Social
Wel a e Depa men ’s inancial aid schemes, which aim o assis hose wi h low incomes.
Such e o s ha e no only come om he op down, as ini ia i es ha e been implemen ed
o p o ide communi y-based ca e o olde people, which allows hem o ecei e
heal hca e se ices and suppo in hei own communi ies, hus helping o educe he
need o ins i u ionalized ca e. In addi ion, a ious social suppo p og ams and ini ia i es
ha e been launched o add ess he social and emo ional well-being o olde people,
including social clubs, ec ea ional ac i i ies, and counseling se ices.
Mo e ecen e o s include implemen ing and en o cing egula ions on elde ca e
se ices in Malaysia o ensu e ha olde people ecei e app op ia e ca e and suppo .
These a ious ini ia i es e lec he go e nmen ’s ecogni ion o he aging popula ion and
he need o ocus on ca e. In ea ly 2023, he go e nmen p oposed a comp ehensi e
policy solu ion o add ess i s aging popula ion. One o he mos s iking p o isions o he
Senio Ci izens’ Bill is i s inancial penal ies o people placing hei olde pa en s in o
o mal ca e ins i u ions, highligh ing he con inued ole o ilial pie y cus oms in Malaysian
cul u e by a emp ing o en o ce a s a u o y du y ha legally binds adul child en o ca ing
o hei olde pa en s (Hui 2023). Howe e , c i ics poin o he 2023 and 2024 na ional
budge s as e idence ha he Go e nmen o Malaysia lacks a s ong ocus on esponding
o he needs o i s aging popula ion (New S ai s Times 2023, Thomas 2023). The
Malaysian Coali ion on Aging has con inued o u ge he go e nmen o do mo e o suppo
he heal hy and ac i e aging o olde people, emphasizing limi ed sa ings o olde people
27
Figu e 5. Li ing A angemen s by Coun y
Sou ce: Au ho s’ calcula ions using Malaysia Ageing and Re i emen Su ey da a and Vie Nam
Aging Su ey da a.

28
Figu e 6. Loca ion o Nea es Li ing Child by Coun y
Sou ce: Au ho s’ calcula ions using Malaysia Ageing and Re i emen Su ey da a and Vie Nam
Aging Su ey da a.
29
Table 1. Poisson Random E ec s Es ima es o he Numbe o Dep essi e Symp oms, Malaysia
Va iable/S a is ic
All
Age
d
40
–
59
Age
d
60+
Men
Age
d
40
–
59
Men
Age
d
60+
Women
Age
d
40
–
59
Women
Age
d
60+
Woman -0.023
-0.049
0.030
(0.028)
(0.039)
(0.041)
Age (yea s) 0.003 ** 0.003
0.016 *** 0.001
0.010 ** 0.009 * 0.021 ***
(0.002)
(0.004)
(0.003)
(0.006)
(0.004)
(0.005)
(0.004)
E hnici y ( e e ence: o he Bumipu a)
Malay -0.076
-0.103
-0.034
0.014
-0.130
-0.209
0.039
(0.074)
(0.100)
(0.108)
(0.156)
(0.166)
(0.133)
(0.141)
Chinese -0.342 *** -0.372 *** -0.339 *** -0.120
-0.359 ** -0.599 *** -0.342 **
(0.072)
(0.099)
(0.103)
(0.153)
(0.158)
(0.134)
(0.137)
Indian 0.185 ** 0.223 * 0.141
0.366 * 0.025
0.104
0.233
(0.090)
(0.124)
(0.128)
(0.196)
(0.203)
(0.163)
(0.165)
O he s -0.071
-0.163 * 0.090
-0.187
-0.322 * -0.212 * 0.261 **
(0.069)
(0.091)
(0.101)
(0.139)
(0.165)
(0.124)
(0.132)
Educa ion ( e e ence: less han p ima y)
P ima y -0.141 *** -0.077
-0.140 *** -0.050
-0.205 ** -0.114
-0.104 *
(0.042)
(0.082)
(0.050)
(0.148)
(0.099)
(0.099)
(0.058)
Seconda y -0.370 *** -0.333 *** -0.348 *** -0.223
-0.451 *** -0.401 *** -0.281 ***
(0.045)
(0.080)
(0.060)
(0.139)
(0.104)
(0.096)
(0.076)
Te ia y -0.644 *** -0.662 *** -0.519 *** -0.732 *** -0.584 *** -0.618 *** -0.533 ***
(0.081)
(0.113)
(0.126)
(0.173)
(0.161)
(0.147)
(0.206)
Ma i al s a us ( e e ence: ma ied)
Ne e ma ied 0.003
0.298 ** -0.496 *** 0.774 *** -0.375 ** -0.291 * -0.547 ***
(0.091)
(0.127)
(0.122)
(0.173)
(0.177)
(0.160)
(0.160)
Widowed 0.207 *** 0.407 *** 0.056
0.317 * 0.181 ** 0.388 *** 0.002
(0.040)
(0.076)
(0.047)
(0.180)
(0.079)
(0.085)
(0.059)
Sepa a ed/ di o ced 0.447 *** 0.499 *** 0.384 *** 0.569 *** 0.613 *** 0.472 *** 0.259 *
(0.064)
(0.079)
(0.118)
(0.117)
(0.174)
(0.101)
(0.156)
U ban -0.110 *** -0.119 *** -0.097 *** -0.055
-0.107 ** -0.160 *** -0.086 *
(0.025)
(0.036)
(0.035)
(0.054)
(0.052)
(0.048)
(0.047)
Peninsula Malaysia 0.304 *** 0.357 *** 0.250 *** 0.259 ** 0.275 *** 0.421 *** 0.235 ***
(0.044)
(0.063)
(0.059)
(0.102)
(0.090)
(0.080)
(0.078)
Con inued on he nex page
30
Table 1 (con inued)
Va iable/S a is ic
All
Aged 40
–
59
Aged 60+
Men
Aged 40
–
59
Men
Aged 60+
Women
Aged 40
–
59
Women
Aged 60+
Li ing child en ( e e ence: none)
1–2 -0.256 *** 0.064
-0.693 *** 0.352 ** -0.615 *** -0.131
-0.719 ***
(0.075)
(0.108)
(0.102)
(0.166)
(0.142)
(0.127)
(0.137)
3–4 -0.322 *** -0.036
-0.686 *** 0.249
-0.550 *** -0.230 * -0.779 ***
(0.076)
(0.113)
(0.103)
(0.178)
(0.144)
(0.135)
(0.138)
5+ -0.278 *** 0.122
-0.760 *** 0.486 ** -0.635 *** -0.135
-0.828 ***
(0.082)
(0.124)
(0.109)
(0.192)
(0.148)
(0.149)
(0.149)
Li ing a angemen s ( e e ence: li e alone)
Spouse only -0.278 *** -0.164
-0.378 *** -0.148
-0.291 ** -0.159
-0.410 ***
(0.068)
(0.121)
(0.080)
(0.164)
(0.128)
(0.175)
(0.110)
O he amily
membe s -0.091 * -0.119 -0.111 * -0.117 -0.032 -0.109 -0.148 *
(0.054)
(0.093)
(0.067)
(0.116)
(0.114)
(0.146)
(0.084)
Nea es li ing son ( e e ence: li ing elsewhe e)
Li ing wi h -0.029
-0.078
0.000
-0.153 ** -0.071
-0.022
0.072
(0.034)
(0.049)
(0.048)
(0.077)
(0.070)
(0.063)
(0.065)
Lea ing nea -0.076
-0.140
-0.025
-0.028
-0.214 ** -0.194
0.104
(0.053)
(0.115)
(0.060)
(0.186)
(0.093)
(0.152)
(0.079)
Nea es li ing daugh e ( e e ence: li ing elsewhe e)
Li ing wi h -0.007
-0.025
0.007
0.067
0.020
-0.073
0.001
(0.034)
(0.049)
(0.048)
(0.075)
(0.071)
(0.064)
(0.065)
Lea ing nea 0.097 ** 0.033
0.149 *** 0.231
0.271 *** -0.075
0.070
(0.047)
(0.112)
(0.054)
(0.198)
(0.078)
(0.140)
(0.073)
Second su ey wa e -0.137 *** -0.173 *** -0.084 ** -0.171 *** -0.052
-0.178 *** -0.110 **
(0.025)
(0.036)
(0.036)
(0.055)
(0.053)
(0.048)
(0.048)
Cons an 0.693 *** 0.432 * 0.234
0.074
0.585
0.454
-0.081
(0.147)
(0.256)
(0.259)
(0.374)
(0.395)
(0.352)
(0.334)
No. o obse a ions 10,295
5,961
4,334
2,553
1,998
3,408
2,336
Model es s (p- alues)
Model i 0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
Random e ec s 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
*** = p<0.01, ** = p<0.05, and * = p<0.10.
Sou ce: Au ho s’ calcula ions using Malaysia Ageing and Re i emen Su ey da a.
31
Table 2. Poisson Random E ec s Es ima es o Numbe o Ch onic Heal h Condi ions, Malaysia
Va iable/S a is ic
All
Aged 40
–
59
Aged 60+
Men
Aged 40
–
59
Men
Aged 60+
Women
Aged 40
–
59
Women
Aged 60+
Woman 0.022 -0.029
0.081 **
(0.029) (0.047)
(0.033)
Age (yea s) 0.032 *** 0.056 *** 0.003 0.042 *** 0.008 ** 0.068 *** -0.002
(0.002) (0.005) (0.003) (0.007) (0.004) (0.006) (0.003)
E hnici y ( e e ence: o he Bumipu a)
Malay 0.087 0.255 ** -0.069 0.081 -0.237 * 0.339 ** 0.071
(0.074) (0.108) (0.094) (0.173) (0.144) (0.142) (0.125)
Chinese -0.036 -0.030 -0.082 0.051 -0.268 ** -0.158 0.071
(0.070) (0.105) (0.088) (0.165) (0.135) (0.138) (0.119)
Indian 0.406 *** 0.722 *** 0.078 0.710 *** -0.037 0.693 *** 0.182
(0.087) (0.129) (0.107) (0.203) (0.168) (0.168) (0.141)
O he s -0.349 *** -0.598 *** -0.179 * -0.677 *** -0.321 ** -0.552 *** -0.092
(0.072) (0.107) (0.092) (0.168) (0.150) (0.137) (0.117)
Educa ion ( e e ence: less han p ima y)
P ima y 0.077 * -0.053 0.042 -0.078 0.137 0.006 0.018
(0.044) (0.098) (0.046) (0.218) (0.100) (0.106) (0.052)
Seconda y -0.007 -0.216 ** 0.025 -0.037 0.195 * -0.265 ** -0.088
(0.048) (0.094) (0.051) (0.209) (0.101) (0.103) (0.062)
Te ia y -0.095 -0.226 0.038 -0.043 0.269 ** -0.337 * -0.485 **
(0.082) (0.140) (0.096) (0.250) (0.126) (0.190) (0.227)
Ma i al s a us ( e e ence: ma ied)
Ne e ma ied -0.040 -0.119 0.030 -0.262 -0.048 -0.051 0.052
(0.086) (0.126) (0.114) (0.195) (0.172) (0.182) (0.147)
Widowed 0.103 *** 0.200 *** 0.119 *** 0.177 0.202 *** 0.149 * 0.085 *
(0.036) (0.073) (0.038) (0.148) (0.069) (0.088) (0.046)
Sepa a ed/ di o ced 0.000 -0.013 0.078 0.138 -0.127 -0.104 0.134
(0.074) (0.099) (0.109) (0.167) (0.181) (0.129) (0.128)
U ban -0.017 0.010 -0.035 0.007 -0.002 0.006 -0.061 **
(0.017) (0.029) (0.022) (0.051) (0.034) (0.035) (0.028)
Peninsula Malaysia -0.031 -0.217 *** 0.141 *** -0.045 0.254 *** -0.338 *** 0.044
(0.041) (0.064) (0.048) (0.111) (0.072) (0.080) (0.068)
Con inued on he nex page
32
Table 2 (con inued)
Va iable/S a is ic
All
Aged 40
–
59
Aged 60+
Men
Aged 40
–
59
Men
Aged 60+
Women
Aged 40
–
59
Women
Aged 60+
Li ing child en ( e e ence: none)
1–2 0.200 *** 0.045 0.247 ** -0.110 0.377 *** 0.162 0.155
(0.072) (0.105) (0.099) (0.171) (0.137) (0.140) (0.135)
3–4 0.209 *** 0.061 0.260 *** -0.109 0.323 ** 0.182 0.226 *
(0.072) (0.109) (0.099) (0.181) (0.138) (0.143) (0.134)
5+ 0.203 *** -0.001 0.238 ** -0.051 0.265 * 0.054 0.228 *
(0.077) (0.121) (0.102) (0.201) (0.145) (0.156) (0.137)
Li ing a angemen s ( e e ence: li e alone)
Spouse only 0.014 -0.004 0.021 -0.138 0.040 0.091 -0.025
(0.055) (0.119) (0.060) (0.171) (0.083) (0.174) (0.083)
O he amily
membe s -0.017 -0.115 0.063 -0.136 0.046 -0.082 0.053
(0.049) (0.107) (0.053) (0.138) (0.074) (0.165) (0.070)
Nea es li ing son ( e e ence: li ing elsewhe e)
Li ing wi h -0.054 * 0.071 -0.118 *** 0.086 -0.160 *** 0.084 -0.077
(0.031) (0.053) (0.037) (0.089) (0.056) (0.067) (0.048)
Lea ing nea 0.032 0.006 0.051 0.293 * 0.068 -0.169 0.026
(0.042) (0.116) (0.044) (0.169) (0.068) (0.157) (0.057)
Nea es li ing daugh e ( e e ence: li ing elsewhe e)
Li ing wi h -0.022 -0.009 0.032 0.028 0.065 -0.023 0.017
(0.031) (0.050) (0.037) (0.081) (0.057) (0.065) (0.049)
Li ing nea 0.084 ** 0.343 *** 0.072 * 0.583 *** 0.105 0.180 * 0.051
(0.037) (0.083) (0.041) (0.145) (0.065) (0.103) (0.051)
Second su ey wa e 0.247 *** 0.242 *** 0.244 *** 0.287 *** 0.240 *** 0.219 *** 0.245 ***
(0.018) (0.029) (0.022) (0.052) (0.036) (0.035) (0.029)
Cons an -2.167 *** -3.121 *** -0.343
-2.513 *** -0.854 *** -3.735 *** 0.135
(0.148) (0.317) (0.225)
(0.530)
(0.329) (0.414) (0.297)
No. o obse a ions 10,339
5,976
4,363
2,561
2,019
3,415
2,344
Model es s (p- alues)
Model i 0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
Random e ec s 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
*** = p<0.01, ** = p<0.05, and * = p<0.10.
Sou ce: Au ho s’ calcula ions using Malaysia Ageing and Re i emen Su ey da a.

33
Table 3. Poisson Random E ec s Es ima es o Numbe o Dep essi e Symp oms, Vie Nam
Va iable/S a is ic
All
Age
d
60+
All
Me
n
Men
Age
d
60+
All Women
Women
Age
d
60+
Woman 0.199 *** 0.154 ***
(0.000) (0.000)
Age (yea s) 0.007 *** 0.006 *** 0.014 *** 0.009 *** 0.003 *** 0.004 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Kinh e hnici y -0.031 *** -0.014 *** 0.016 *** -0.032 *** -0.041 *** -0.015 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Educa ion ( e e ence: less han p ima y)
P ima y -0.074 *** -0.042 *** -0.032 *** -0.018 *** -0.110 *** -0.075 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Seconda y -0.262 *** -0.194 *** -0.219 *** -0.205 *** -0.294 *** -0.200 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Te ia y -0.531 *** -0.488 *** -0.531 *** -0.467 *** -0.518 *** -0.486 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Ma i al s a us ( e e ence: ma ied)
Ne e ma ied -0.249 *** -0.215 *** 0.242 *** 0.335 *** -0.296 *** -0.279 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Widowed 0.054 *** 0.055 *** -0.076 *** -0.047 *** 0.125 *** 0.103 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Sepa a ed/di o ced -0.022 *** 0.198 *** 0.171 *** 0.026 *** -0.064 *** 0.177 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
U ban -0.135 *** -0.137 *** -0.053 *** -0.068 *** -0.209 *** -0.207 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Region ( e e ence: no he n)
Cen al 0.047 *** 0.029 *** 0.048 *** 0.014 *** 0.037 *** 0.036 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Sou he n -0.031 *** -0.005 *** 0.029 *** 0.064 *** -0.080 *** -0.054 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Li ing child en ( e e ence: none)
1–2 -0.261 *** -0.174 *** -0.486 *** -0.450 *** -0.124 *** -0.048 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
3–4 -0.199 *** -0.154 *** -0.236 *** -0.127 *** -0.163 *** -0.159 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
5+ -0.142 *** -0.120 *** -0.165 *** -0.052 *** -0.138 *** -0.174 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Con inued on he nex page
34
Table 3 (con inued)
Va iable/S a is ic
All
Aged 60+
All Men
Men Aged 60+
All Women
Women Aged 60+
Li ing a angemen s ( e e ence: li e alone)
Spouse only -0.230 *** -0.179 *** -0.402 *** -0.349 *** -0.091 *** -0.072 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
O he amily membe s -0.136 *** -0.078 *** -0.369 *** -0.301 *** -0.021 *** 0.017 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Nea es li ing child ( e e ence: li ing elsewhe e)
Li ing wi h -0.101 *** -0.091 *** 0.075 *** 0.019 *** -0.205 *** -0.180 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Lea ing nea -0.042 *** -0.039 *** 0.024 *** 0.001 *** -0.104 *** -0.092 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
2022 su ey wa e -0.098 *** -0.121 *** -0.180 *** -0.210 *** -0.037 *** -0.052 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Cons an 1.317 *** 1.288 *** 0.897 *** 1.206 *** 1.777 *** 1.591 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
No. o obse a ions 7,192 5,941 2,935
2,423
4,257
3,518
Model es s (p- alues)
Model i 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Random e ec s 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
*** = p<0.01, ** = p<0.05, and * = p<0.10.
Sou ce: Au ho s’ calcula ions using Vie Nam Aging Su ey da a.
35
Table 4. Poisson Random E ec s Es ima es o Numbe o Ch onic Heal h Condi ions, Vie Nam
Va iable/S a is ic
All
Age
d
60+
All Men
Men
Age
d
60+
All Women
Women
Age
d
60+
Woman 0.104 *** 0.109 ***
(0.000) (0.000)
Age (yea s) 0.009 *** 0.005 *** 0.014 *** 0.013 *** 0.005 *** 0.000 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Kinh e hnici y 0.129 *** 0.068 *** 0.050 *** 0.052 *** 0.158 *** 0.077 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Educa ion ( e e ence: less han p ima y)
P ima y -0.039 *** -0.030 *** -0.142 *** -0.176 *** 0.032 *** 0.074 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Seconda y 0.132 *** 0.147 *** 0.159 *** 0.164 *** 0.097 *** 0.104 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Te ia y 0.141 *** 0.127 *** 0.230 *** 0.201 *** 0.013 *** -0.016 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Ma i al s a us ( e e ence: ma ied)
Ne e ma ied -0.109 *** -0.174 *** 0.088 *** -0.096 *** -0.174 *** -0.171 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Widowed -0.009 *** 0.018 *** -0.126 *** -0.100 *** 0.039 *** 0.070 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Sepa a ed/di o ced -0.087 *** 0.030 *** 0.066 *** -0.143 *** -0.114 *** 0.043 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
U ban 0.032 *** 0.062 *** 0.117 *** 0.144 *** -0.036 *** -0.002 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Region ( e e ence: no he n)
Cen al -0.057 *** -0.053 *** -0.052 *** -0.055 *** -0.062 *** -0.045 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Sou he n 0.140 *** 0.124 *** 0.078 *** 0.051 *** 0.186 *** 0.176 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Li ing child en ( e e ence: none)
1–2 0.090 *** 0.040 *** 0.535 *** 0.090 *** -0.042 *** 0.050 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
3–4 0.125 *** 0.010 *** 0.605 *** 0.137 *** -0.047 *** -0.037 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
5+ 0.305 *** 0.229 *** 0.781 *** 0.360 *** 0.122 *** 0.161 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Con inued on he nex page
36
Table 4 (con inued)
Va iable/S a is ic
All
Aged 60+
All Men
Men Aged 60+
All Women
Women Aged 60+
Li ing a angemen s ( e e ence: li e alone)
Spouse only -0.134 *** -0.047 *** -0.267 *** -0.175 *** -0.050 *** 0.029 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
O he amily membe s -0.094 *** -0.023 *** -0.146 *** -0.051 *** -0.066 *** -0.018 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Nea es li ing child ( e e ence: li ing elsewhe e)
Li ing wi h -0.097 *** -0.117 *** -0.169 *** -0.194 *** -0.042 *** -0.069 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Lea ing nea -0.035 *** -0.064 *** -0.072 *** -0.097 *** 0.011 *** -0.032 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
2022 su ey wa e 0.489 *** 0.466 *** 0.434 *** 0.441 *** 0.521 *** 0.477 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
Cons an -0.456 *** -0.117 *** -1.054 *** -0.606 *** -0.051 *** 0.346 ***
(0.000) (0.000) (0.000)
(0.000)
(0.000) (0.000)
No. o obse a ions 7,498 6,239 3,035
2,519
4,463
3,720
Model es s (p- alues)
Model i 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Random e ec s 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
No es: The no a ion *** is p<0.01, ** is p<0.05, and * is p<0.10.
Sou ce: Au ho s’ calcula ions using Vie Nam Aging Su ey da a.
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
6 ADB A enue, Mandaluyong Ci y
1550 Me o Manila, Philippines
www.adb.o g
ADB ECONOMICS
WORKING PAPER SERIES
NO. 730
June 2024
The Role o Family Suppo in he Well-Being o Olde People
E idence om Malaysia and Vie Nam
Rapid demog aphic changes in Malaysia and Vie Nam could dis up adi ional amily suppo o olde
people. An analysis o unique panel da a om he Malaysia Ageing and Re i emen Su ey and he Vie Nam
Aging Su ey poin s o he bene i s o li ing condi ions—including ma i al s a us and whe he one’s child en
li e nea by— o he physical and men al well-being o olde people. Gi en he es ima ed p o ec i e e ec o
li ing a angemen s examined in he pape , go e nmen s may need o adjus social sa e y ne s o bols e he
physical and men al heal h o senio ci izens li ing alone.
Abou he Asian De elopmen Bank
ADB is commi ed o achie ing a p ospe ous, inclusi e, esilien , and sus ainable Asia and he Paci ic,
while sus aining i s e o s o e adica e ex eme po e y. Es ablished in 1966, i is owned by 68 membe s
—49 om he egion. I s main ins umen s o helping i s de eloping membe coun ies a e policy dialogue,
loans, equi y in es men s, gua an ees, g an s, and echnical assis ance.
THE ROLE OF FAMILY SUPPORT
IN THE WELL-BEING
OF OLDER PEOPLE
EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA AND VIET NAM
Yana an de Meulen Rodge s, Joseph E. Z eglich, J ., Khadija Ali, and Hanna Xue